4.12.05 lepp

4.12.05

PRESS RELEASE: Minister Faces 4 Life Sentences For Religious Beliefs

It has been 48 days in jail for Rev. Charles Eddy Lepp since the February 16th raid on his ministry and medicinal marijuana farm called Eddy’s Medicinal Gardens and Multi-Denominational Ministry of Cannabis and Rastafari. This was the 3rd raid in the past 4 years on the Ministry located in Upper Lake California. Rev. Charles Eddy Lepp is facing 4 life sentences plus two 20-year sentences, $17 million in fines, and $600 in special assessments for the combined charges on the 2004 and 2005 raids.

Rev. Lepp was the first person tried and acquitted under California Law Proposition 215 in 1998 for cultivating approximately 150 plants. In 2002 the Ministry was raided for around 250 plants, but no one had formal charges brought up against them. Then, on August 18, 2004 the Ministry was raided again, this time for more than 32,500 medicinal marijuana plants alongside California Highway 20. Rev. Lepp was out on bail pending trial for the medicinal grow when the DEA entered the Ministry with guns drawn on February 16, 2005, again seizing the sacrament and medicine.

Thanks to a $10,000 donation by Joe Rogan from Fear Factor and The Man Show, Rev. Lepp was able to retain Tony Serra, Omar Figueroa, and Shari Greenberger for the case. The $10,000 donation is for the projected research and other related court costs. All three attorneys for Rev. Lepp’s case are working pro bono.

There is a $500,000 bail on Rev. Lepp that is to be obtained in the form of property that will be quick deeded back at the end of the case. Any individual wanting to help with property for the bail or donations to the Ministry or the defense fund to save the land and house that forfeiture attorney Brenda Grantland is trying so hard to save, contact the Ministry through www.eddysmedicinalgardens.com.

Rev. Lepp holds true to his religious and state rights under Proposition 215, SB 420, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to grow and use cannabis for spiritual and medicinal reasons. His defense will push these issues. He is being tried under Judge Patel in the 9^th circuit in San Francisco California. His next court date is on May 31^, 2005 at the San Francisco federal court building.

For Information Contact:

Linda Senti or Craig Lemire

Primary 707-275-8879
Secondary 707-319-1773
Fax 707-275-9717 9176
Upper Lake Lucerne Rd.
Upper Lake CA. 95485